Fastener



Jan. 18,1944. E. KERN 2,339,411

' FASTENER Filed Nov. 19, 1942 im; 2 hrw/wmv. EMIL KEA-'N Patented Jan. 18, 1944 FASTENER Emil Kern, Long Island City, N. Y., assigner to Acco Products, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 19, 1942, Serial No. 466,100

12 Claims.

The invention relates to filing devices and more particularly to a paper fastener including a base having prongs to extend through a stack of sheets and be locked with a separable compressor member.

Prong fasteners of the type including a base having bendable prongs and an associated compressor, such as is disclosed in Kline Patent No. 1,658,052, issued February 7, 1928, are made of material (usually sheet steel) which is easily and inexpensively fabricated and which retain their critical dimensions to insure proper functioning of their related parts so as to remain useful indefinitely. Present day shortages in such critical materials has necessitated the use of substitute materials such as ber, pressboard, cardboard, or the like, which because of its porosity tends to absorb moisture and frequently expand sufciently to destroy its critical dimensions and be,- come useless for the purpose intended. Further, such material also is incapable of critical shaping or of retaining such shape over a period of time and the prongs thereof are sufficiently pliable as to make it impossible to retain them in their ultimate bent down or folded position by known types of compressors or other known devices. Known types of fasteners also lack means to retain the compressor against the stack of sheets prior to bending and fastening of the prongs because of the inherent tendency of the stack of sheets to resist compression.

The present invention has for its aim the construction and organization of a pronged paper fastener which effectively overcomes the deficiencies inherent in the fiber, pressboard, etc., from which it may be made and the objectionable characteristics of prior devices; and one which is not expensive to manufacture but is very efflcient in use.

It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide a paper fastener with means to effect tight binding and Wedging of related parts to prevent inadvertent separation of the pronged base and associated compressor.

Another object is to provide a fastener compressor with means to wedgingly co-actl with an associated prong and retain the compressor tightly against the le of papers prior to final securement.

Another object is to provide a reinforced compressor having simple means to bindingly and wedgingly co-act with an associated member so as to resist any forces tending to cause separation of the parts, but which may be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled.

Another objectkof the invention is to provide a compressor having means to bindingly and wedgingly engage associated prongs, with novel means to retain the prongs ina folded down posi-` tion after assembly to increase the effectiveness of such engagement.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specication, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing; wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment 0f the improved fastener assembled on a file of papers, the le being shown in part.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of a fastener of Fig.V 1 showing one of its prongs partially secured.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of one of the identical ends of the compressor, partially broken away to better illustrate its construction.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of fastener showing one prong in place.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a fastener embodying a modified form of compressor, showing one prong in section.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig, 5.

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary view of a file folder embodying features of the invention.

Like reference numerals are used herein to identify corresponding parts in the various ernbodiments disclosed. j

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3,111-,

elusive, the fastener is shown applied to a file folder including a stack of sheets II having cover members I2 and I3,on opposed faces. The cover members I2 and I3 usually are formed of pressboard or the like and each may include a mounting strip I4 hingedly connected thereto by means of a flexible binding of fabric `or the like I5 Whereby the cover members may be freely movedrinto open and closed position to afford access. to the sheets. y

The fastener illustrated includes a base member I6 and a compressor member I'I each of whichV may be formed of any substantially firm sheet material such as fibre, pressboard, cardboard, or the like. The base IB consists of an elongated strip of material having an intermediate body portion Iia., preferably reinforced against longitudinally flexing by longitudinal ribs I8, and spaced apart flat bendable prongs I9 of a width substantially less than the Width of the intermediate body portransversely extending intermediate portions 2.3

spaced apart substantially the same distance as the spacing between the prongs. For reasonsl to be better understood as the description proceeds the portion 23 of each U-shaped slit 22 is relatively narrow as compared with the thickness of the prong material. This portion of each slit,

together with the longitudinal inwardly extend-v ing leg portions 2G thereof, define three sides of a iiap 25 which normally lies substantially in the plane of the compressor.

To assemble the fastener, the free end portions of the extending prongs IQ are. threaded one through each transverse slit portion 23 of the compressor and the latter is moved downwardly against the top face of the stack. This threading of the prongsv flexes the flaps at their connecting edge and deiiects. them upwardly out of the plane of the compressor. As a result of this deflection from their normal plane, the iiaps bind the prong tightly. It should be evident that after the compressor is urged downwardly to tightly compress the stack of sheets it subsequently is held against freely backing olf of the prongs by reason of the binding action of the flaps 25.

The compressor is also provided with means to retain the prongs folded down inwardly toward each other. This positioning of the prongs not only avoids unsightly and impractical prong projection but also further increases the normal binding action of the flaps 25 to increase'their locking effect. As best shown in Fig. 2, the compressor has suitable openings 26 one spaced inwardly of each iiap 25. In this particular embodiment the openings 26 are in a vertical plane constituting the ends of a longitudinal inverted channel 2'! formed in the bottom face ofthe compressor preferably by upsetting its medial portion 28. The prong ends are inserted into the channel 21 through the respective openings 2B and are pressed downwardly sufiiciently to cause the prong material at the folds to be distorted slightly so as to provide an offset or kink 29 at each complemental slit portion 23. As a consequence, the compressor is securely locked tightly against the stack by the bindingwedging action of the iiaps 25 and the kinking of the prongs, and the free end portions of the prongs are adequately' retained within the channel 21 and thus do not become a source of irritation.

The folded over prong portions are further protected against inadvertent destructive engagement and possible untimely withdrawal from. the channel 2 by extending the longitudinal side walls of the channel 21 tothe ends of thecompressor in the form ofribs 31|.V These ribs, also serve to reinforce the compressor against longitudinal ii'exing, particularly at the slits 22.

The fastener illustrated in Fig. 4 is structurally and functionally like the one just described except that in this instance the compressor Ha. is substantially flat and is provided with a longitudinally extending elevated medial portion 23a open at both ends to define a prong receiving channel on the bottom face of the compressor.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a wedge-lock fastener which embodies all of the essential and desirable characteristics of the fasteners previously described. In this embodiment the compressor i'ib, which consists of a strip of substantially iiat material, has its bottom face formed with two transversely spaced longitudinal reinforcing ribs 32 defining an inverted longitudinal channel 2lb to receive the free ends of the wedged folded over prongs when the latter are inserted downwardly through openings 2d!) provided therefor.

Fig. 7 illustrates a le folder having features of the invention embodied in the cover strip I4. As shown, substantially U-shaped slits define flaps 25e which are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the prongs I9, thereby permitting said prongs to be threaded through the strip and folded thereover so as to be wedged and locked in place. The cover strip M also has suitable openings 26e, one spaced inwardly of each flap 25e, to receive the free end portions of the folded prongs.

It should be evident at this time that the improved fastener is characterized by the absence of any manually movable locking devices, such as slide latches, and consequently is not susceptible to being rendered ineiective should absorption of moisture or other causes result in slight variations in its various dimensions. Further, the compressor may be removed readily from its association with the prongs by withdrawing them from the openings 25 after which they are deiiected slightly outwardly into the position substantially as illustrated at the left hand side'of Fig. 2 to permit their easy sliding through the compressor slits 2'3.

Although the instant disclosure is concerned with several speciiic embodiments of a nonmetallic fastening device, it should be understood that this disclosure is by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation, and that the invention may be embodied in metallic fasteners and embody various modifications in minor details without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener comprising a base to be placed against one vface of a stack of sheets having spaced bendable prongs to be passed through holes in said stack, a compressor having a substantially U-shaped slit adjacent each end each having its leg portions extending longitudinally inwardly towards the other, at least the connecting portions of said U-shaped slits being relatively narrow as compared with the thickness of the prong material, said compressor being placed against the other face of said stack with the prongs threaded one through each connecting slit portion, the prongs deflecting the portions or" the compressor dened on three sides by said slits upwardly out of the plane of the compressor whereby said portions bindingly engage said prongs and urge their extending end portions outwardly away from each other, and the compressor having means inwardly of each U-shaped slit to hold the free end portions of the prongs bent down inwardly towards each other over their respective underlying compressor portions Whereby said portions are wedged tightly against thel prongs at their bendstol prevent inadvertent removal of the compressor.

2. A fastener comprising a'base to be placed against one face of a stack'of sheets having spaced bendable prongs to be passed through holes in said stack, -a compressor,flapsfhingedly connected at one edge to'said compressor, said flaps having their free edges opposite their hinged edges disposed close to complementary compressor edges to define slits, said compressor being placed against the other face of said stack with the prongs threaded one through each slit, said pron-gs having a material thickness greater than the width of the slits so as to ex said flaps upwardly whereby said flaps bindingly engage said prongs and urge their extending end portions outwardly away `from each other, and means on the compressor inwardly of each iiap to receive the free end portions of the prongs when the latter are bent down inwardly towards each other over their respective underlying flap whereby said flaps are wedged tightly against the prongs at their bends to prevent inadvertent removal of the compressor.

3. A fastener comprising a base to be placed against one face of a stack of sheets having spaced bendable prongs to be passed through similarly spaced holes in said stack, and an elongated compressor having a substantially U- shaped slit adjacent each end each having its leg portions extending longitudinally inwardly towards the other, at least the connecting portions of said U-shaped slits being relatively narrow as compared with the thickness of the prong material, said compressor being placed against the other face of said stack with the prongs threaded one through each connecting slit portion, said prongs deiiecting the portions of the compressor dened by said slits upwardly out of the plane of the compressor whereby said portions bindingly engage said prongs when the latter are bent down inwardly towards each other over the top of the compressor.

4. A fastener compressor comprising a strip of substantially stiff material, a hinge flap inwardly of each end of said strip, said flaps normally lying in the plane of the strip and being defined in part by a slit opening in said strip to receive the end portion of a flexible prong on an associated base, said prongs having a thickness greater than the width of said slit opening so that the flaps are deected upwardly to frictionally co-act with the prongs to retard their withdrawal from said slits, and the strip having other openings one inwardly of each flap each to receive the extended end portion of a prong after said prongs are bent down inwardly `over the respective underlying nap whereby said naps wedge tightly against and odset the prongs at their bends to interlockingly retain the compressor in place.

5. A fastener comprising a compressor having a longitudinally channeled bottom and a slit at one end defining a hinge flap, and a bendable prong having a material thickness relatively greater than the width of said slit extended an-guf' larily upwardly through said slit, said prong deilecting said flap upwardly out of the plane of the compressor and having its extended end portion bent down inwardly over said deected flap and threaded downwardly into said channel through a second opening in said compressor, said flap being thereby urged downwardly -to wedge the prong at the slit.

6. A fastener compressor comprising a at strip of substantially stiff material, a hinge ap inwardly of each end of saidstrip, said flaps normally lying inthe plane of said strip and being capable of ilexing'upwardly from the plane of the strip to dene slotted openings, and the strip having other openingsone inwardly of each flap each to receivethe free end portion of a llexible prong on` an associated base after said prongs are extendedone through each slotted opening and bent down inwardly over the respective underlying flap, I .Y

7. A fastener compressor having a longitudinal channel in its bottom face and a transverse slit inwardly of at least one end, said slit being relatively narrow as compared to the thickness of the material, longitudinal slits extending inwardly from each end of each of said transverse slits to define with said transverse slits three sides of a flap bendable relative to the plane of the compressor along its unsevered edge, and said compressor having an opening inwardly of said flap to afford access to said channel from the top face of the compressor.

8. A fastener compressor comprising a strip of substantially stiff material having longitudinal channels on its top face one extending inwardly from each end, a hinge liap in the bottom wall of each channel, said flaps normally lying in the plane of said wall and being capable of flexing upwardly to denne a slotted opening, the strip having an opening at the inner end of each channel each to receive the free end portion of a exible prong on an associated base after said prongs are extended one through each slotted opening and bent down inwardly over the respective underlying ilap.

9. A fastener compressor comprising a strip of resiliently ilexible material having longitudinal reinforcing ribs spaced apart to define a longitudinal channel in its bottom face, a transverse slit inwardly of at least one end said strip, said slit terminating substantially at said ribs, longitudinal slits extending inwardly from each end of said transverse slit to define with said transverse' slit three sides of a flap, and said strip having an opening inwardly of said flap to afford access to said channel from the top face of the strip.

10. A fastener comprising a base to be placed against one face of a stack of sheets having spaced bendable prongs to be passed through similarly spaced holes in said stack, a compressor having planular end portions and a substantially U-shaped slit in each portion each having its leg portions extending longitudinally inwardly towards the other, at least the connecting portions of said U-shaped slits being relatively narrow as compared with the thickness of the prong material, said compressor being placed against the other face of said stack with the prongs threaded one through each connecting slit portion, the prongs deiiecting the portions of the compressor dened by said slits out of the plane of the compressor whereby said portions bindingly engage said prongs, and means on the compressor inwardly of each U-shaped slit to overlie the free end portions of the prongs when the latter are bent down inwardly towards each other over their respective underlying deflected compressor portions.

l1. A fastener for a stack of sheets comprising a base and a compressor, prongs on said base threaded through aligned openings in the stack and in the compressor, resiliently exible means at the compressor openings to bindingly engage and kink said prongs to prevent their easy withthe strip to dene slotted openings, a longitudinal 10 channel in the bottom face of said strip terminating short of the aps, said strip having openings one at each en d of said channel each to admit the free end portion of a flexible prong on an associated base into said channel after said prongs are extended one through each slotted opening and bent down inwardly over the respective underlying flap.

EMIL KERN. 

